Brazilian agribusiness exports to the Middle East have risen 55% from January to September this year, in comparison to the same period in 2003, according to figures supplied by Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry.
The value of shipping has reached US$ 2.224 billion, against US$ 1.434 billion in the first nine months of last year.
For statistical purposes, the Brazilian government considers the countries in the Middle East all the Arab countries in the region: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman and Syria, as well as Israel and Iran, which are not Arab.
According to the report by the Ministry, participation of these countries in total sector foreign trade has also grown, rising from 6.4% to 7.4% of total exports.
To Africa, Brazilian agricultural exports totalled US$ 1.613 billion between January and September, against US$ 1.056 billion in the same period in 2003, a growth of 52.6%.
As is the case with the Middle East, African participation in sector foreign trade has also risen, going from 4.7% to 5.4% of total exports.
In general, Brazilian agribusiness shipping has generated US$ 29.864 billion from January to September, a 33.5% increase with regard to the same period last year. The sector answered to 42.5% of total Brazilian exports up to September.
The largest increases, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, were registered in the sales volumes of products like soy oil in bulk, sugar, raw cattle beef, raw chicken, and maize.
September
In September alone, agribusiness exports to the Middle East totalled US$ 307.7 million, against US$ 263.7 million in the same period last year, a growth of 16.67%.
To Africa, sector export revenues rose 25% in September, from US$ 156.9 million to US$ 196.1 million.
In general, sector shipping generated US$ 3.839 billion in the month, against US$ 3.113 billion in September 2003, an increase of 23.3%.
The highlights were the soy complex (grain, ground, and oil), meats, sugar and alcohol products, and forestry products (paper, cellulose and wood).
ANBA – Brazil-Arab News Agency